Journal of Agricultural Technology 2016Vol. 12(4): 565-577

Available online http://www.ijat-aatsea.com ISSN 1686-9141

Diversity, prevalence and benefits use of trees in the primary

and high schools in Thong Song district, Nakhon Si

Thammarat province, Thailand

Na Nakorn Wattana 1*, Hatthong Jumluang

2 and Hatsaponpan

Supawadee3

1,2,3

Department of Landscape Technology , Faculty of Agriculture, Rajamangala University

of Technology Srivijaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat Campus, Thailand 80110

Na Nakorn, W., Hatthong, J., and Hatsaponpan, S., (2016). Diversity, prevalence and

benefits use of trees in the primary and high schools in Thong Song district, Nakhon Si

Thammarat province, Thailand. Journal of Agricultural Technology 12(4):565-577.

Diversity, prevalence and benefits use of trees in the primary and high schools in

Thong Song district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province were studued in Thailand. The field

study of trees in each school was conducted from May, 2012 to October, 2012. The process

of study were recorded as: taken a photograph of trees, recorded the scientific name,

family name, the height of tree, diameter of canopy, recorded the benefit use of tree. The

result showed that the diversity and prevalence of trees in 16 schools found 242 species, 45

genera and 22 families. The most abundance families are in LEGUMINOSAE,

LYTHIRACEAE and BIGNOICEAE, respectively. The five most abundant are Cerbera

odollam Gaertn. (5.34%); Lagerstroemia floribunda Jack (4.52%); Steblus asper Lour.

(4.11%); Alstonia schoaris ( L.)R.Br. (3.70%); and Terminalia ivoensis A.Chev. (3.70%),

respectively. Tree canopy diameter of total 243 trees was showed that the most trees (44

percent) are in medium size with the canopy diameter 3-4 m, the second number of canopy

diameter in small size with the canopy diameter 2.9-1 m are 38 percent and the biggest size

of canopy diameter with the canopy diameter 5-6 m are 18 percent.. Tree height of total

248 trees was showing the most highest tree 15 percent with the tree height 15-20 m, the

medium tree height 19 percent with the tree height 14-10 m and the abundance of small tree

height 32 percent with the tree height 1-9 m. the benefits use of tree in the school from the

recorded of total 243 trees, the main benefit use of trees in all schools are propose of

shading 78 percent, beneficial use of trees for landscaping and the aesthetics is 22 percent

and a little bit about other beneficial use for example for symbol of the fence.

Keyword : diversity, prevalence, benefits use , trees

* Corresponding author : wattana.nn@hotmail.com

566

Introduction

The trees in cities or communities are planted to provide beauty or

shade. The benefits of trees can reduce runoff by intercepting precipitation,

absorb pollutants, emit hydrocarbons, and modify solar radiation, air

temperature, wind speed and relative humidity. The tree in school is one of

the most important aspects for the shading, landscaping and aesthetics.

Green landscaping supports the conservation of biodiversity in urban areas

(Kummerling and Muller, 2012). Planting more trees can help increasing the

quality of urban landscapes (Franco et al., 2003, Guthrie and Shackleton,

2006), by regulating microclimate, increasing the CO2 sequestration (Merry

et al, 2013); reducing surface water runoff (Stringer and Ennos, 2013;

Soares et al, 2011; Wolch et al, 2014, Zhang and Liu, 2010); conserving

energy (McPherson and Rowntree, 1989); supporting biodiversity and

providing wildlife habitats (Ivanko, 2001; William, 2003). Enhancement of

tree diversity plays an important role in forest management, by preventing

native species lost from disturbance pollutions (Zhang and Jim, 2014).

One of the modern concepts of tree landscaping in the cities was

originally derived from the United States. It started with Boston’s Emerald

Necklace through the planning of the Boston Park System created by

Frederick Law Olmsted, during the late 19th

century (J.G. Fabos, 2004). The

early inventory of street trees in between year 1982-1985 in terms of the

diversity in the U.S. cities showed that there were between 100 to 200 tree

species (Nowak, 1993),

There are several aspects to be considered in managing the trees in a

way that they can efficiently provide ecosystem services, shading provide

and landscaping use. The objective of this study to find out the diversity and

prevalence of the trees and to assess the benefits use of trees in the school.

Materials and methods

1. Study area

A field study of the trees in 16 schools in Thong Song, Nakhon Si

Thammarat province in Southern Thailand, consist of 2 groups of school :

group 1 primary school were: 1) Ratprachanukaw school 2) Bansaisan

school 3) Bansamakeetam school 4) Tongkaypatanasaksa school 5)

Watkawro school 6) Watwangheep school 7) Banwangyon school 8)

Watwangkri school 9) Bankokchand school 10) Bannamtok school

and 11) Banbonkaun school and group 2 High school were :

Thongsongsahaprachason school 2) Thongsong school 3) Thongsongwittaya

school 4) Kangprawittakom school and 5) Satreethonsong school

Journal of Agricultural Technology 2016Vol. 12(4): 565-577

567

2. Field study

A field study of trees in each school was conducted in six months

from May,2012 to October, 2012. The process of study were recorded : 1)

take a photograph of trees 2) record the scientific name, family name, the

height of tree, diameter of canopy, diameter of stem above the ground 1.5

meters 3) record the benefit use of tree

3. Analysis and classified of the trees in the school

How much the number of trees, tree species, tree genera and tree

family. The benefit use of each tree will be classified. Data recorded from

the field were separated to three size by the tree height, stem diameter and

the diameter of canopy.

Results

1. Diversity and prevalence of tree

The result of the diversity and prevalence of trees in 16 schools in

Thong district, Nakhon Si Thammarat Thailand, were found 242 species,

45 genera and 22 families. Table 1 shows the most abundance family are in

LEGUMINOSAE, LYTHRACEAE and BIGNONIACEAE, respectively.

The five most abundant are; 1) Cerbera odollam Gaertn. (5.34%); 2)

Lagerstroemia floribunda Jack (4.52%); 3) Streblus asper Lour. (4.11%);

4) Alstonia schoaris ( L.)R.Br.(3.70%); and 5) Terminalia ivoensis A.Chev.

(3.70%), respectively.

2. Tree size

Tree canopy diameter of total 243 trees from 16 schools showed

that the most trees (44 percent) are in medium size with the canopy diameter

3-4 m, the second number of canopy diameter in small size with the canopy

diameter 2.9-1 m are 38 percent and the biggest size of canopy diameter

with the canopy diameter 5-6 m are 18 percent (Table 1) . Tree height of

total 243 trees was showing the most highest tree 15 percent with the tree

height 15-20 m, the medium tree height 19 percent with the tree height 14-

10 m and the abundance of small tree height 32 percent with the tree height

1-9 m. The structure of each tree was showed in Figure 1.

3. benefits use of tree in the school

From the recorded of total 243 the main benefit use of trees in all

schools are propose of shading 78 percent, beneficial use of trees for

landscaping and the aesthetics is 22 percent and a little bit about other

beneficial use for example for symbol of the fence.

568

Table 1. Trees species distribution in 16 schools in Thong Song district,

Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand

Scientific Name

Family

Frequency

Percent (%)

Average

of tree height

(m)

Average

of stem diameter

(cm)

Canopy

Diameter (m)

Benefit

use

√ ×

Horsfieldia irya (Gaertn.) Warb. MYRISTICACEAE 2 0.82 15 70 6 √

Cananga odorata (Lam.)

Hook.f. &Thomson var. odorata

ANNONACEAE 2 0.82 14 60 3 ×

Careya sphaerica Roxb. LECYTHIDACEAE 3 1.23 13 65 5 √

Anthocephalus chinensis (Lam.)

A.Rich.ex Walp.

RUBIACEAE 6 2.46 16 75 6 √

Acacia auriculiformis

A.Cum.ex.Benth.

LEGUMINOSAE 6 2.46 14 70 3 √

Acacia mangium Willd. LEGUMINOSAE 4 1.64 18 80 6 √

Calophyllum inophyllum L. GUTTIFERAE 2 0.82 17 80 6 √

Cassia bakeriana Craib LEGUMINOSAE 5 2.05 15 30 4 √

Streblus asper Lour. MORACEAE 10 4.11 10 50 4 ×

Senna siamea (Lam.)

Irwin&Barneby

LEGUMINOSAE 5 2.05 8 20 3 √

Senna spectabilis (DC.) Irwin&

Barneby

LEGUMINOSAE 5 2.05 6 20 3 √

Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth

ex Walp.

LEGUMINOSAE 6 2.46 8 25 4 √

Spathodea campanulata

P. Beauv.

BIGNONIACEAE 7 2.88 10 30 3 √

Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. LEGUMINOSAE

6 2.46 10 80 6 √

Magnolia × alba

(DC.) Figla

MAGNOLIACEAE 2 0.82 17 25 2.5 √

Mangnolia champaca

(L.)Baillon ex Pierre

var.champaca

MAGNOLIACEAE 1 0.41 18 20 2.5 √

Barringtonia acutangula

Gaertn.

LECYTHIDACEAE 4 1.64 8 25 3 √

Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC. BIGNONIACEAE 2 0.82 8 20 2 √

Flacourtia rukam Zoll. &

Moritzi

FLACOURTIACEAE 3 1.23 5 15 2.5 √

Lagerstroemia floribunda Jack LYTHRACEAE 11 4.52 6 20 3 √ ×

Cerbera odollam Gaertn. APOCYNACEAE 13 5.34 6 25 2.5 √

Erythrina variegate L. LEGUMINOSAE – PAPILIONOIDEAE

3 1.23 9 40 6 √

Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm.

LAURACEAE 3 1.23 16 75 4 √

Ficus benjamina L. MORACEAE 4 1.64 15 40 2 √

Peltophorum pterocarpum

(DC.) Backer ex K. Heyne

LEGUMINOSAE 4 1.64 15 60 6 √ ×

Phyllocarpus septentrionalis

Donn. Sm.

LEGUMINOSAE

5 2.05 4 15 2 √ ×

Remark : √ = benefit use for shading, × = benefit use for landscaping

Journal of Agricultural Technology 2016Vol. 12(4): 565-577

569

Table 1.(cont.) Trees species distribution in 16 schools in Thong Song

district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand

Scientific Name

Family

Frequency

Percent (%)

Average

of tree height

(m)

Average

of stem diameter

(cm)

Canopy

Diameter (m)

Benefit

use

√ ×

Pterocarpus indicus Willd. LEGUMINOSAE 5 2.05 12 50 5 √

Millingtonia hortensis L.f. BIGNONIACEAE 5 2.05 13 40 2 ×

Callistemon lanceolatus DC. MYRTACEAE 3 1.23 15 80 4 ×

Alstonia schoaris ( L.)R.Br. APOCYNACEAE 9 3.70 10 20 3 √

Mimusops elengi L. SAPOTACEAE 5 2.05 12 75 4 √

Tamarindus indica L. LEGUMINOSAE –

PAPILIONOIDEAE

4 1.64 10 20 2.5 √

Averrhoa carambota L. OXLIDACEAE 3 1.23 10 20 2.5 √

Mangisfera indica L. ANACARDIACEAE 5 2.05 6 10 2 √

Garcinia mangostana Linn. GUTTIFERAE 1 0.41 15 70 4 √

Cassia fistula L. LEGUMINOSAE 7 2.88 8 20 2.5 √

Plumeria spp. APOCYNACEAE 7 2.88 3 15 2 ×

Jacaranda obtusifolia

H.B.K.subsp.rhombifolia

(G.F.W.Meijer) Gentey

BIGNONIACEAE 2 0.82 10 18 2.5 ×

Araucaria 569ssess R.Br.

(Salisb.) Franco

ARAUCARIACEAE

3 1.23 8 15 2.5 ×

Casuarina junghuhniana Miq CASUARINACEAE

2 0.82 12 20 2 ×

Azadirachta indica Juss. Var.

siamensis Valeton

MELIACEAE 7 2.88 15 15 4 √

Tectona grandis L. f. VERBENACEAE 5 2.05 15 20 3 √

Lagerstroemia loudonii Teijsm.

& Binn.

LYTHRACEAE 6 2.46 10 25 2 √

Pisonia grandis R. Br. NYCTAGIMACEAE

5 2.05 1.5 10 1.5 ×

Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.)

Raf.

LEGUMINOSAE

3 1.23 √

Terminalia ivoensis A.Chev. COMBRETACEAE 9 3.70 14 70 4 ×

Terminalia catappa L. COMBRETACEAE 6 2.46 12 60 4 √

Coccoloba uvifera (L.) Jacq

POLYGONACEAE

3 1.23 10 25 3 ×

Polyalthia longitolia (Benth.)

Hook. F. var. pandurata ANNONACEAE 6 2.46 17 30 1 ×

Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.)

Pers.

LYTHRACEAE 4 1.64 10 60 3 √

Lagerstroemia macrocarpa

Wall .

LYTHRACEAE 4 1.67 8 40 3 √

Total 243 100

Remark : √ = benefit use for shading, × = benefit use for landscaping

570

Anthocephalus chinensis (Lam.)

A.Rich.exWalp. Calophyllum inophyllum L.

Streblu sasper Lour.

Cassia bakerianaCraib

Senna siamea (Lam.)

Irwin&Barneby Senna spectabilis (DC.) Irwin

&Barneby

Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.)Kunth ex

Walp. Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr.

Figure 1. The nature of structure of representative trees in 16 schools :

1) feature of stem, 2) feature of leaf, 3) feature of flower

and 4) feature of fruit

Journal of Agricultural Technology 2016Vol. 12(4): 565-577

571

Figure 1.(cont.) The nature of structure of representative trees in 16

schools : feature of stem, 2) feature of leaf, 3) feature of flower

and 4) feature of fruit

Mangnoliac hampaca

(L.)Baillon ex Pierre

var.champaca

Magnolia × alba(DC.) Figla

Barringtoniaac utangula Gaertn.

Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.)DC.

Flacourtia rukam Zoll.

&Moritzi

Lagerstroemia floribunda Jack

Cerbera odollam Gaertn.

Erythrina variegate L.

Cinnamomum porrectum

(Roxb.)Kosterm.

572

fruit

Figure 1. (cont.) The nature of structure of representative trees in 16

schools: feature of stem, 2) feature of leaf, 3) feature of flower

and 4) feature of fruit

Ficus benjamina L.

Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.)

Backer ex K. Heyne

Phyllocarpus septentrionalis

Donn.Sm.

Pterocarpus indicus Willd.

Millingtonia hortensis L.f.

Callistemon lanceolatus DC.

Alstonia schoaris(L.) R.Br.

Mimusops elengi L.

Tamarindus indica L.

Journal of Agricultural Technology 2016Vol. 12(4): 565-577

573

Figure 1. (cont.) The nature of structure of representative trees in 16

schools : feature of stem, 2) feature of leaf, 3) feature of flower

and 4) feature of fruit

Averrhoa carambota L.

Mangisfera indicaL.

Garcinia mangostana Linn.

Cassia fistula L.

Plumeria spp.

Jacaranda obtusifolia

H.B.K.subsp.rhombifolia(G.

F.W.Meijer) Gentey

Araucaria cookii R.Br.

(Salisb.) Franco

Casuarina junghuhniana

Miq

Azadirachta indicaJuss.

Var. siamensisValeton

574

Figure 1. (cont.) The nature of structure of representative trees in 16

schools : feature of stem, 2) feature of leaf, 3) feature of flower

and 4) feature of fruit

Azadirachta excelsa (Jack)

Jacobs

Tectona grandis L. f. Lagerstroemia loudonii

Teijsm.&Binn.

Pisonia grandis R. Br. Delonix regia (Bojer ex

Hook.)Raf.

Terminalia ivoensisA.Chev.

Terminalia catappa L. Coccoloba uvifera (L.)Jacq

Polyalthia longitolia

(Benth.)Hook. f. var. pandurata

var.

Journal of Agricultural Technology 2016Vol. 12(4): 565-577

575

Discussion

The diversity and prevalence observations of trees are varied by

area and climatic around the world. In Lisbon, Portugal, street tree

community was dominated by Celtis australis L., Tillia spp., and Jacaranda

mimosifolia D. which together counted 40% of tree population (Soares et al,

2011). In Bangalore, India, the four most commomly found species; Albizia

saman, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Spathodea campanulata, and Pongamia

pinnata, while Albizia saman is common species that was found less than

10% of the population (Nagendra and Gopal, 2010). Street trees in the

district highways in Nakhon Si Thamamarat province, Thailand can greatly

help to improve environmental quality in the city. For energy, they can help

to save approximately 27,810 MWh per year from the reduction in

electricity consumption. Regarding CO2 reduction, it is about 333,844 tons

per year. Moreover, the net air pollution reduction is about 5.6 tons per year.

The annual rainfall interception or storm water runoff reduction is

approximately 12.34 million m3 per year. These combined are accounted

for approximately $11.64 million per year or about $40 per tree per year. It

is obvious that the i-Tree Streets model is useful for calculating environment

benefits produced by street tree community. Thus, it could be used as a tool

to implement studies on this type of projects in other cities (Choothong, et

al., 2016)

The prevalence of trees in 16 schools, the most abundance family is

LEGUMINOSAE, because of this family can grow well by itself. It can

fixaticion of nitrogen has been estimated to contribute about 115x106 metric

tonnes of nitrogen to the earth’s ecosystem annually, with nodulated

legumes grown for agricultural purposes accounting for about one quarter of

that value (Burns and Hardy 1975). The symbiotic associations of legumes

and Rhizobium or Bradyrhizobium species lead to the formation of root

nodules which are the sites of nitrogen-fixation. In these systems the host

plants supply photosynthates which are oxidized to provide the energy

requirement. These associations have attracted considerable attention

because they are very important in food and fibre production (Evans and

Berber 1977). The most of trees in all schools the main benefit use for

propose of shading 78 percent. The primary and high school in urban of

Thailand, they are popular to grow the perennial plat for the student use a

shading during at noon time and sometime the use a shading for the class

activity. The most trees (44 percent) are in medium size with the canopy

diameter 3-4 m, and the biggest size of canopy diameter with the canopy

diameter 5-6 m are 18 percent and the structure and feature of each tree was

appearance in Figure 1. The minority of beneficial use of trees for

576

landscaping and the aesthetics is 22 percent. The landscaping design in

primary and high school in urban of Thailand is it not much, because they

lack a capital for done and lack of the expert for contracted landscaping in

the school.

Conclusion The study of trees in 16 schools in Thong Song district, Nakhon Si

Thammarat, Thailand. The diversity and prevalence of tree had the

approximated number of 243 trees from found 242 species, 45 genera and

22 families, the most dominant family is LEGUMINOSAE. The benefit tree

use mainly for shading 78 percent and for landscaping and the aesthetics is

22 percent

Acknowledgements

The author are thankful to the Director of Ratprachanukaw school, )

Bansaisan school, Bansamakeetam school, Tongkaypatanasaksa school,

Watkawro school,Watwangheep school, Banwangyon school, Watwangkri

school, Bankokchand school, Bannamtok school, Banbonkaun school,

Thongsongsahaprachason school, Thongsong school, Thongsongwittaya

school, Kangprawittakom school and Satreethonsong school who are

cooperate and give the convenient to a field study of the trees in his/her

school.

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